Xiaobai Su (b. 1949)

In 2000, Su Xiaobai began making art using the traditional Chinese artisan's material of lacquer. This piece, Six Steps to Language (Lot 3345), employs the Western-style hard-edge painting style; the mottled surface and mixed media are reminiscent of Robert Rauschenberg's "combine" paintings. Also, by applying the lacquer in layers to the raw wooden surface, Su preserves the original qualities of the lacquer: unlike the pigment in an oil painting, lacquer is bright and glossy, and the red and black colors used here accentuate those qualities.
In the belief that a good work of art does not require excess explanation, Su Xiaobai strives for a pure aesthetic feel, speaking to the viewer through his art but leaving the interpretation up to the viewer.